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Every time I see or bump into somebody and they ask how I am, my initial response was to say “TIRED”. I truly believe that the hardest thing about parenthood at this stage of my life is the sleep deprivation. It’s not the lack of sleep but the broken sleep that affects me most. I don’t know about you but if I don’t have a enough sleep then I am one cranky person with a short fuse. With two girls under two and fourteen months apart, my world has been flipped upside down. What I have come to realise is that every parent is tired. So I have made a sub-conscious effort to stop saying those words and am training my mind to accept that this is now a way of life. I know that it’s not forever and that there is light at the end of the tunnel. So for now, when I see or bump into someone I have stopped saying that I am TIRED and now I tell them I’m BUSY, which is a whole new article…..

It’s High Quality – This is because it’s extremely absorbent, very breathable, and ultra-soft. These features mean it’s both luxurious and practical.

It’s Hygienic – Bamboo is resistant to odour, mold, mildew, and bacteria even after numerous washing’s.

It’s Hypo Allergenic – This means it’s suitable for all skin types.

It’s Easy to Care for – Bamboo clothing doesn’t wrinkle and is machine washable in cool water. Furthermore, fabric softeners are not needed or recommended.

It’s Environmentally Friendly – Bamboo is a renewable resource. In addition, pesticides and fungicides are not required in the production of bamboo as is it is seldom eaten by insects or infected by pathogens.

Did you know that Bamboo is not produced from a tree but an extremely fast growing grass? In fact, Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth. Some species can grow up to 1 meter per day and up to 60 feet in height within 90 days.

What is organic food? Food that is grown in a farming system without the use of potentially harmful man-made substances such as growth regulators, pesticides and livestock feed additives. However, Organic Food Farmer’s in Australia are allowed to use a very limited range of pesticides. Therefore you are not ‘eliminating’ your child’s consumption of pesticide residue but you are significantly reducing it.

In saying this, it’s more important to reduce exposure to pesticide’s for babies as opposed to adults because a baby’s immune system hasn’t developed enough to fight off all these toxins.

Here are some good reasons’ for you to buy Organic Baby Food:

1. It reduces your child’s exposure to pesticides.

2. It’s environmentally friendly.

3. It tastes better because without pesticides the plants can produce more antioxidants and vitamins.

I personally found it really challenging to sustain a fully organic diet when it came to feeding my babies. Firstly it can cost you about 50% more to buy Organic Foods and secondly I didn’t have access to all the organic produce I wanted. My solution was to choose organic where it really did make a difference.

What foods should you buy ‘Organic’? Certain produce requires significantly more intervention than others to flourish (e.g. pesticides or growth hormones). So when it comes to feeding your baby, these are precisely the foods that you should always try to buy Organic. For example:

I personally didn’t choose glass baby bottles for my 2 children (ages 1 & 2) but I would definitely reconsider if I was to have a third baby and this is why:

Many of the older plastic baby bottles are made with polycarbonate plastic which is a hard, unbreakable plastic and can leak a compound called BPA (bisphenol A). BPA can result in developmental hormonal complications because of the way it imitates Estrogen in our body’s.

Fortunately you can find PBA-free plastic bottles nowadays but bear in mind that plastic is also less durable than glass baby bottles and they should NEVER be put in the microwave. Furthermore, you should dispose of your plastic baby bottle as soon as it becomes at all damaged, scratched etc.

Glass is easier to clean and simply sterilised in boiling water without running the risk of leaching harmful substances into the milk.

Glass baby bottles don’t change the flavour of the milk when heated whereas plastic bottles tend to impart various flavours into the milk (including breastmilk) when heated.

Of course glass bottles do have the obvious drawbacks of being heavier as well as being breakable. Just make sure you choose a glass bottle that has tempered glass and is ‘shock resistant’. Finally, choose a glass baby bottle brand that offers silicon cover accessories.

Did you know that swaddling is one of the safest, beneficial and gentle practices for parents and their babies?

During the first few months, professionals recommend that your baby spend’s most of their time wrapped in a swaddling blanket. This will assist with keeping them warm as well as mimic the security of the womb and help to reduce their startle reflex.

These days there are so many swaddling blankets to choose from so it’s important to know what to look.

Firstly make sure it’s a finely woven breathable fabric such as a gentle 100% Organic Muslin. Not only is organic muslin one of the softest and most natural fabrics in the world but it is also the safest fabric for swaddling your baby. The soft muslin helps trap the body heat and restrict movement whilst also creating a temperature womb-like environment that can help babies sleep.

Secondly make sure it’s no smaller than 120cm x 120cm otherwise your baby will outgrow it in the first few months.

Finally if you’re not prepared to buy an Organic Baby Muslin Wrap then at least buy a cotton muslin as opposed to a synthetic fabric. Cotton is softer, more flexible and durable than synthetic fabrics.